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Netanyahu links cockpit incident to radicalisation

Israel’s prime minister cites new indications, while Emirati investigators have yet to establish a motive.

There is news on this story (Saturday, 3 October 2026, 11:19): Emirates describe co-pilot’s attack as terrorist act

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight had been religiously radicalised before the cockpit incident. The United Arab Emirates stresses that the investigation is ongoing and must also establish whether there were possible terrorist intentions.

The incident took place on Wednesday aboard flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Flydubai, an incident occurred in the cockpit during the flight, after which the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The airline says all passengers and crew members arrived safely.

On Thursday, Netanyahu told American media that, according to initial investigation information, the co-pilot had been radicalised along Islamist lines in recent months. He presented that conclusion as an indication of the possible background to the incident, but the available statements contain no publicly released evidence of the alleged radicalisation.

The Emirati attorney-general has established a specialised investigation team. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the team is to investigate the circumstances, the motive and a possible link to terrorism. The Emirates called on people not to circulate unconfirmed information until the investigation is complete.

Flydubai has temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel. The airline says it is suspending the flights in consultation with the authorities for as long as the investigation into flight FZ1073 continues. The incident therefore affects not only the flight involved, but also the connection between Dubai and Tel Aviv.

The case also exposes a difference between political interpretation and forensic determination. Israeli officials speak of a possible terrorist act, while the Emirati authorities are more cautious in their wording and are keeping several scenarios open. Questions about access controls to the cockpit and the screening of crew members have also not yet been answered publicly.

For now, it is established that the aircraft made an emergency landing and that the authorities have begun an investigation. The motive, the precise circumstances and whether there had been planning in advance have not yet been established. Netanyahu’s statement therefore concerns a claim by an involved government leader, not a completed investigation finding.

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